Christianity & Atheism
Did Jesus Exist?
Yes. That a Jewish teacher named Jesus lived in first-century Judea and was crucified under Pontius Pilate is affirmed by virtually all historians, including atheist and agnostic scholars. The 'Jesus myth' theory, that he never existed, is a fringe position rejected by the scholarly mainstream. What historians genuinely debate is not whether Jesus existed, but who he was and what really happened.
The sources
The evidence is unusually good for an ancient figure: the New Testament writings (the letters of Paul date to within about twenty years of Jesus' death, and refer to people who knew him); and non-Christian references. The Roman historian Tacitus, writing around 116 AD, records:
The Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities, c. 93 AD) also refers to Jesus twice, including as the brother of James.
What the scholars say
Bart Ehrman, an agnostic New Testament scholar and no friend of Christian apologetics, is blunt: mythicists ‘are not taken seriously by the vast majority of scholars.’ He writes that ‘virtually all scholars of antiquity agree’ that Jesus was a Jewish teacher who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. We cite an atheist-friendly scholar deliberately: this is not a matter of faith but of ordinary ancient history.
The strongest skeptical point, fairly
Mythicists note there are no surviving sources written during Jesus' own lifetime, and that legends can grow quickly. That is true, and worth taking seriously, but it is true of almost every non-royal figure of antiquity; historians still confidently affirm their existence on later and comparable evidence.
An honest word
That Jesus existed and was crucified is history, not theology. Whether he rose, and who he was, are the real questions, and they deserve their own honest examination.
Historical and philosophical sources are named in the text (e.g. Tacitus, Josephus, Bart Ehrman, Gary Habermas, Alvin Plantinga, John Hick). We aim to cite atheist and skeptical scholars accurately and in their own terms. Bible: King James Version.
Frequently asked questions
- Did Jesus really exist?
- Yes. Virtually all historians, including atheist and agnostic scholars, agree that a Jewish teacher named Jesus lived in first-century Judea and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. The 'Jesus never existed' theory is a fringe position in scholarship.
- What non-Christian sources mention Jesus?
- The Roman historian Tacitus (Annals 15.44) records that 'Christus' was executed under Pontius Pilate; the Jewish historian Josephus refers to Jesus twice. These are early, independent, non-Christian references.
- Do atheist scholars think Jesus existed?
- Yes. The agnostic scholar Bart Ehrman wrote a whole book (Did Jesus Exist?) arguing that Jesus certainly existed, and states that mythicism is not taken seriously by the vast majority of scholars.
Come and see, on your own terms
The most honest way to weigh Christianity is to examine the historical evidence and read the earliest sources yourself. The Gospel of Mark, the earliest of the four, is a good place for a skeptic to begin, no belief required to read it.
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